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1.ISRAEL HAS PRESENTED SYRIA WITH PROPOSALS FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN THE EVENT OF A WITHDRAWAL FROM THE GOLAN HEIGHTS. ISRAELI MEDIA REPORTS SAY THE PROPOSAL WAS MET WITH INTEREST BY THE SYRIANS. NEGOTIATORS FROM BOTH SIDES ARE MEETING FOR A SECOND DAY IN A RURAL RETREAT OUTSIDE WASHINGTON, TO HAMMER OUT A WORKING DOCUMENT FOR PEACE. ENDS---RADICALLY ALTER THEIR LIVES. DUR:43"

2.YACHTING. THE WORLD'S NEWEST HI-TECH OCEAN RACING MAXI SAYONARA WON THE 51ST SYDNEY TO HOBART RACE TODAY. THE U.S. YACHT, WITH ITS SPACE-AGE HULL AND COMPUTER-MOULDED BULLET PROOF SAILS WAS THE HOT FAVOURITE TO TAKE BOTH LINE HONOURS AND THE RACE RECORD. THE YACHT BOASTED A CREW STACKED WITH AMERICA CUP SAILORS AND AUSTRALIAN MEDIA TYCOON RUPERT MURDOCH. BUT IT WAS A FRUSTRATING 1,300 KILOMETRE RACE FOR SAYONARA, FINISHING SOME TEN HOURS OUTSIDE THE 20 YEAR RACE RECORD. THE U.S. YACHT TOOK THREE DAYS, 53 MINUTES AND 35 SECONDS TO COMPLETE THE JOURNEY DOWN THE EASTERN AUSTRALIAN COAST IN FICKLE WINDS. AUSTRALIAN MAXI BRINDABELLA FINISHED SECOND, TWO WHOLE HOURS LATER.

3.SPORTS IS NEXT AND GOLF. DEFENDING CHAMPION, VINCENT KHUA, RETAINED THE SINGAPORE ISLAND COUNTRY CLUB JUNIOR-INVITATIONAL-CHAMPIONSHIP DESPITE SHOOTING A FINAL ROUND THREE OVER PAR 75. THE THREE-DAY EVENT WAS PLAYED AT THE IS LAND COURSE OF THE SICC. OUT:STROKES TO SPARE DUR:1.01

4."MARRYING BUSINESS EXPERTISE WITH FOOTBALL" WAS THE AIM OF THE S-LEAGUE WHEN THEY RECRUITED MARKETING PROFESSIONALS. ONE RESULT:- MERCHANDISING FOR ALL 8 CLUBS IN THE SEMI-PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE. OUT:---NEW BALL GAME. DUR:1.21

5.BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR IS REPORTED TO HAVE WARNED PRINCE CHARLES THAT THE BRITISH PUBLIC WOULD NOT TOLERATE A MARRIAGE TO HIS MISTRESS CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES, IF HE DIVORCES PRINCESS DIANA. THE DAILY MIRROR, QUOTING SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY, SAID MR MAJOR MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO PRINCE CHARLES AND QUEEN ELIZABETH, HOW UNPOPULAR SUCH A MOVE WOULD BE. PRINCESS DIANA IS CURRENTLY ON HOLIDAY ON ANTIGUA. THE QUEEN WROTE TO THE SEPARATED COUPLE LAST WEEK URGING THEM TO SEEK A DIVORCE. PRINCE CHARLES HAS AGREED TO THE PROPOSAL, BUT PRINCESS DIANA, WHO WAS SAID TO BE FURIOUS AND DEVASTATED BY THE LETTER, HAS NOT REPLIED.

6.IN COLOMBIA, AVIATION OFFICIALS INVESTIGATING LAST WEEK'S AMERICAN AIRLINES PLANE-CRASH SAY THE PILOTS MISUNDERSTOOD A CRITICAL COMMAND. AND THERE WAS NO RADAR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SO THE PILOTS HAD TO RESORT TO THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE - A NINE-SECOND WARNING LIGHT. ENDS --- INTO THE ANDES MOUNTAINS" DUR:2"07"

7.AGREEMENT ON THE U.S. BUDGET COULD BE POSSIBLE WITHIN DAYS, PAVING THE WAY FOR A REOPENING OF THE U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. CONGRESS LEADER NEWT GINGRICH HELD OUT SOME HOPE FOR AN AGREEMENT WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN PARTIALLY SHUT FOR 13 DAYS. NEW BUDGET TALKS ARE TO START LATER TODAY. MEANWHILE, PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS VETOED A DEFENCE BUDGET BILL IN A BID TO BLOCK A NEW DEFENCE SYSTEM. THE BILL, WHICH WAS PASSED BY BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS, WOULD HAVE INCLUDED FINANCING FOR AN ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEM. BUT THE WHITE HOUSE SAID MR CLINTON BELIEVES SUCH A BILL WOULD VIOLATE A NUCLEAR ARMS-CONTROL-TREATY WITH RUSSIA.

8.THE NUMBER 2 OFFICIAL AT JAPAN'S POWERFUL FINANCE MINISTRY HAS STEPPED DOWN. KYO-SUKE SHINO-ZAWA RESIGNED TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY FOR A TIDE OF CRITICISM AGAINST THE MINISTRY. HIS BOSS - FINANCE MINISTER MASA-YOSHI TAKE-MURA TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY HE'D ACCEPTED THE RESIGNATION AND SAID HE WOULD SOLDIER ON HIMSELF TO TACKLE JAPAN'S PROBLEM OF AILING MORTGAGE FIRMS. OVER THE YEAR, THE FINANCE MINISTRY HAS COME-UNDER-FIRE FOR A VARIETY OF BLUNDERS-INCLUDING THE HANDLING OF DAIWA BANK'S RECENT BOND LOSSES.

9.TAIWAN'S CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR HAS BEEN IMPEACHED BY THE ISLAND'S TOP WATCHDOG BODY - FOR FAILING TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE THE BANK'S OPERATIONS. IN AUGUST THIS YEAR, A 365-MILLION U.S. DOLLAR FRAUD-CASE-SCANDAL ERUPTED, CAUSING TAIWAN'S STOCK MARKET TO PLUNGE. THERE WERE CRITICISMS THAT OFFICIAL INSPECTIONS WERE NOT STRINGENT ENOUGH. AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SCANDAL IS STILL UNDERWAY. SHIU YUAN-DONG IS THE FIRST TAIWAN CABINET-MEMBER WHOSE IMPEACHMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE WATCHDOG BODY. UNDER TAIWANESE LAW, THE "COMMITTEE ON THE DISCIPLINE OF PUBLIC FUNCTIONARIES"' WILL DETERMINE SHIU'S PUNISHMENT.

10.BAD WEATHER TOO IN MANY PARTS OF MALAYSIA. HEAVY RAIN IN SOUTHERN PAHANG AND JOHOR HAVE CAUSED FLOODS OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. THE PAHANG FLOODS ARE SUBSIDING IN THE MARAN DISTRICT WHERE SOME 300 PEOPLE EVACUATED THEIR HOMES YESTERDAY. BUT THE KUANTAN-MARAN ROAD REMAINS IMPASSABLE TO TRAFFIC. THE FLOOD IN JOHOR CLOSED DOWN THE KOTA TINGGI-MERSING ROAD TODAY. SOME 570 PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED TO RELIEF CENTRES IN SEGAMAT AND MUAR. THE WATER LEVEL IN A NUMBER OF MAIN RIVERS IS REPORTED TO BE PAST THE DANGER LEVEL AND STILL RISING. THE RAINS IN PAHANG AND JOHOR ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING. AFTER THAT, WEATHER OFFICIALS EXPECT CONDITIONS TO EASE.

11.IN THE PHILIPPINES, MORE THAN 50 THOUSAND PEOPLE FLED FOR THEIR LIVES AS A TYPHOON SMASHED THEIR HOMES. TROPICAL STORM DAN LASHED SOUTH MINDANAO ISLAND WITH WINDS OF UP TO 140 KILOMETRES AN HOUR. WINDS KNOCKED OUT POWER LINES AND RIVERS BURST THEIR BANKS FORCING PEOPLE TO EVACUATE. IT'S THE FIRST MAJOR WEATHER DISTURBANCE TO THREATHEN THE COUNTRY SINCE TYPHOON ANGELA LEFT MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE DEAD OR MISSING IN NOVEMBER. THE STORM IS NOW OFF THE COAST AND SHOULD DISSIPATE IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

12.CHINA'S PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY ENDORSED A PANEL TO SET UP HONG KONG'S FIRST GOVERNMENT UNDER CHINESE RULE. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IMMEDIATELY STRESSED IT WOULD WORK WITH THE BODY IN THE RUN-UP TO THE "JULY THE 1ST 1997-HANDOVER"' --- BUT OBSERVERS SAY THERE WERE SOME NOTABLE OMMISSIONS ON THE APPROVED PANEL. OUT:---AFTER TAKING POWER. DUR:1.33"

13.PARLIAMENT HAS APPOINTED AN 8-MEMBER SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE "ADVANCED MEDICAL DIRECTIVE BILL". THEY INCLUDE HEALTH MINISTER GEORGE YEO AND SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE DR ALINE WONG. G.P.C. CHAIRMAN FOR HEALTH, LOW MENG SEE IS ALSO ON THE COMMITTEE. THE OTHER M.P.'S ARE MR HARUN GHANI; MR PEH CHIN HUA; DR TAN CHENG BOCK; AND OPPOSITION M.P. MR LOW THIA KHIANG. PARLIAMENT'S SPEAKER, MR TAN SOO KHOON CHAIRS THE COMMITTEE.

14.SINGAPORE SCENE TODAY LOOKS AT THE DIFFICULT BUSINESS OF RETURNING GIFTS YOU DON'T NEED OR WANT. WHILE IT'S MOSTLY A SEASON OF GOODWILL, WHEN IT COMES TO STORE-RETURNS OF CHRISTMAS PRESENTS OUR REPORTER FOUND THERE ARE SOME CUSTOMERS WHO TRY TO EXCHANGE USED-ITEMS! OUT:---SINGAPOREAN SYNDROME?

15.A PHILIPPINE COURT HAS SENT FOUR CHINESE BOAT CAPTAINS TO TEN MONTHS IN PRISON FOR ILLEGALLY ENTERING A PART OF THE SPRATLY ISLANDS CLAIMED BY THE COUNTRY. THE 4 WERE AMONG 62 CHINESE FISHERMEN WHO WERE CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL FISHING IN MARCH THIS YEAR. THE 58 OTHER FISHERMEN PLEADED GUILTY TO A LESSER CHARGE OF MALICIOUS MISCHIEF - AND WERE ALL PARDONED BY PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT FIDEL RAMOS THREE MONTHS AGO. THE ARREST OF THE FISHERMEN CAME AT THE HEIGHT OF A DIPLOMATIC RIFT BETWEEN MANILA AND BEIJING DUE TO OVERLAPPING CLAIMS ON THE SPRATLYS. TENSIONS HAVE SINCE EASED AFTER DIPLOMATS OF BOTH COUNTRIES AGREED TO A CODE-OF-CONDUCT NOT TO USE FORCE OR THREAT TO PURSUE THEIR CLAIMS.

16.SINGAPORE REMAINS AN ATTRACTIVE SITE FOR COMPANIES TO SET UP REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS. AT ITS YEAR-END SECTORAL-BRIEFING ON REGIONAL H.Q'S TODAY, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD REVEALED WHY IT IS CONFIDENT MORE COMPANIES WILL BE AWARDED THE STATUS: IT SAID THIS YEAR'S "TOTAL BUSINESS SPENDING" SAW A 90-PERCENT INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR - AND NOW EXCEEDS 640 MILLION DOLLARS IN COMMITMENTS. 1995 ALSO SAW THE CREATION OF OVER 1200 ADDITIONAL HIGH VALUE-ADDED JOBS. THIS YEAR ALONE, 23 MULTINATIONALS AND HOME-GROWN COMPANIES WERE AWARDED THE OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS AND BUSINESS HEADQUARTERS STATUS. BUT THE E.D.B. CAUTIONS, SINGAPORE NEEDS TO MAINTIAN ITS COST-COMPETITIVENESS, CONTINUE IMPROVING ITS INCENTIVE TOOLS AND PROVIDE WELL-TRAINED MANPOWER.

17.THE CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE HAS PROPOSED A "BOARD OF INQUIRY" TO BETTER HANDLE DISPUTES FROM COMPLAINTS ABOUT SHODDY RENOVATION WORK. CASE FEELS HAVING OFFICERS FROM THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY ON THE BOARD WILL HELP IT COPE WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS IN RECENT YEARS. OUT:---ANY RENOVATION CONTRACT DUR:1.14

18.FOUR DAYS TO GO BEFORE SINGAPORE TAKES ON THE STATUS OF A DEVELOPED COUNTRY. AND IN LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW YEAR, YOUNG SINGAPOREANS HAVE BEEN URGED TO CULTIVATE ALL ASPECTS OF A DEVELOPED SOCIETY. CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL LIM HNG KIANG SPEAKING AT LAST NIGHT'S YOUTH CONCERT SAID IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO HAVE A HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING. ENDS---YOUTH OF THE 90S" DUR:55"

19.FROM MONDAY, C.P.F. MEMBERS CAN NOMINATE BENEFICIARIES TO RECEIVE THEIR SINGAPORE TELECOM GROUP-A SHARES IN THE EVENT OF DEATH. CURRENTLY, NOMINATED BENEFICIARIES CAN RECEIVE THE C.P.F. SAVINGS AFTER DEATH, BUT ONLY AFTER THE SHARES ARE PASSED TO THE PUBLIC TRUSTEE FOR DISTRIBUTION. THE C.P.F. SAYS THE NEW MOVE WILL SPEED UP SHARE-DISTRIBUTION. THE SHARES WERE ISSUED TWO YEARS AGO AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT TO ENABLE SINGAPOREANS TO OWN ASSETS.

20.THAILAND IS TO HOST A MEETING OF FOREIGN MINISTERS OF 10 ASIAN COUNTRIES NEXT FEBRUARY - TO IDENTIFY THE REGIONS' STANCE AHEAD OF THE ASIA-EUROPE SUMMIT SCHEDULED FOR EARLY MARCH. THAI FOREIGN MINISTER KASEM KASEMSRI SAID MINISTERS FROM CHINA, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, AND THE SEVEN ASEAN COUNTRIES ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND. AND A MALAYSIAN TOP OFFICIAL SAYS MEMBERS OF THE "ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM" WILL DISCUSS WAYS TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY TIES WHEN THEY MEET IN TOKYO IN JANUARY. TOPICS WILL INCLUDE CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES. THE ARF WAS FORMED LAST YEAR IN BANGKOK.

21.SIX PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL DURING THE CHRISTMAS WEEKEND. AND 18 PEOPLE WERE TESTED FOR SUSPECTED DRINK-DRIVING DURING THE SAME PERIOD. POLICE SAY THE NUMBER ARRESTED FOR DRINK-DRIVING HAS GONE UP OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. FOR THE FIRST TEN MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, 567 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED. THERE WERE ALSO 75 ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF DRUNKEN-DRIVING. TRAFFICE POLICE WILL FURHTER STEP UP THEIR ENFORCEMENT-EFFORTS TO DETECT AND DETER SUCH OFFENCES.

22.TWO UNEMPLOYED MEN WERE ARRESTED MOMENTS AFTER THEY THREATENED A JEWELLERY SALESMAN WITH AN AXE AND TOOK AWAY 150,000 THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF JEWELLERY YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. OUT:---IN COURT TOMORROW DUR:1.19

23.VIETNAM IS TO CUT TARIFFS ON MORE THAN 850 GOODS, IMPORTED FROM THE SIX OTHER ASEAN-MEMBERS STARTING IN JANUARY. UNDER ASEAN'S "COMMON EFFECTIVE PREFERENTIAL TARIFFS SCHEME"' VIETNAM WILL REDUCE TARIFFS ON THE GOODS TO BETWEEN ZERO AND FIVE PERCENT. THE SAIGON TIMES SAID THE CUTS WILL BE VIETNAM'S FIRST STEP TOWARDS MEMBERSHIP IN THE ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA. VIETNAM IS TO JOIN AFTA FULLY IN 1996. AMONG THE GOODS TO GET A TAX-CUT ARE COMMODITIES, MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT. AROUND 10,000 ITEMS WILL EVENTUALLY BE INCLUDED ON THE LIST.

24.NEXT YEAR'S THAIPUSAM FESTIVAL FALLS ON THE 4TH OF FEBRUARY, A SUNDAY - ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE A SMOOTHER PROCESSION FOR DEVOTEES HAVE ALREADY BEGUN, ESPECIALLY WITH A LARGER CROWD EXPECTED. OUT:---SUBSEQUENT ENFORCEMENT ACTION DUR:1.12

25.JAILED FORMER SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT CHUN DOO HWAN WAS PUT ON OXYGEN TODAY AFTER LOSING CONSCIOUSNESS. HE WAS FED INTRAVENOUSLY AND RETURNED TO CONSCIOUSNESS-UPON WHICH DOCTORS SAY HE SHED TEARS, AND SEEMED TO HAVE NO INTENTION OF RESUMING HIS HUNGER FAST. CHUN'S BEEN ON A HUNGER STRIKE FOR THE PAST 27 DAYS REFUSING SOLID FOOD IN PROTEST AGAINST HIS ARREST ON CHARGES OF MUTINY EARLIER THIS MONTH. THE CHARGES AGAINST THE 64-YEAR-OLD EX-GENERAL INVOLVE MASTERMINDING A COUP IN 1979, FOLLOWED BY AN ARMY CRACKDOWN IN 1980, IN WHICH MORE THAN 200 PRO-DEMOCRACY PROTESTORS WERE KILLED.